Shooting at Multifamily Building. How to keep tenants calm?

[Cassidy Burns]

Hi BP,

I thought this would be a great thread to get started to share how landlords are handling these situations . 

My apartment complex had a shooting this evening and now the police department is handling the guilty patrons.  My job as a landlord is to keep my tenants safe and keep them LIVING AT THE APARTMENT. I have had 2 tenants reach out, extremely worried and one "wanting to move out with all deposit returned."  

I am curious how you guys would handle this?

Happy Investing! 

[Sheldon Zimmerman]

This is tough, If this was my property. I would hear out the tenant and just talk with them. I would try and comfort them by letting them know you will look into this and find out what happened that this happened. Then the information you find out, just disclose that information to them. And do some simple and cheap security upgrades if you feel like that would add value to your property, plus keep them there if they are good tenants. Automatic locking doors, or a Ring Door Bell for security footage. Simple things that help the tenant feel safe. Ultimately they signed a lease and will have to follow the lease if they want to leave that is up to you and what lease they signed. But if you can make them feel safe cheaply that might be the best option.